Writing machine



June 4, 1940.

W. E. MOFARLAND WRITING MACHINE filed Sept. :50, 1937 8 Sheets-Shet 1 June 4, 1940. w. E. M9FARLAND 2,202,958

WRITING MAcgINE Filed Sept. 30, 19s? a Sheets-Shet 2 7/4 10 ATTORNEY wrgmue cams Filed Sept. 36; 1937 a Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENT OR.

M fife/791F074) ATTORNEY.

June 4, 1.940. w. E. MCFARLAND WRITING uAciiInE Filed Sept. 50, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 WWI w I INVENTOR 14 5 MrM/P A fi ATTORNEY June 1940- w. E. McFARLAND WRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1937 8 Sheets Sheet 6 BY M n P ATTORNEY June 4, 1940. w. E, McFARLAND WRITING MACHINE iled Sept. 30, 19

3'7 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 ma Y m fin m A Z We June 4, 1940.

w. E. MQFARLAND WRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 l5 WRITTEN ON THIS FRGE LINE THAT rm: rs THE FIRST nus IS THE Fr-HE? 'LiNE' THAT MdI EMEIVI" TTORNEY.

I 35 Another object of my invention is Provide Another object of my invention is to provide 35 1 50 a single actuation of said means. a writing machine having an improved grip feed 50 meme June a, 1940 230295 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE William E. MEE NEZEZ a'isignor to L. 0. Smith & Corona 'lypewrl rs, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September so, 1921, Serial No. 166,527 80' Claims. (Cl. 191-153) This invention relates to novel mechanism ejecting the ribbon after a downward, and right which may be employedfto make typewritten to left feed. copies; specifically the invention is directed to Another object of my invention is to provide an improved writing machinemr mechanism for a front strike manifolding typewriter having a 5 making improved hectograph, photo-offset, or pack of individual ribbons fed as a unit and 5 ordinary multiple copies and efl'iciently use the individual Separators moving t r bbo transfer material employed. with respect to each other for paper interleaving. An object of my invention is to provide a Another object of my invention is to provide writing machine for more emciently producing a front strike manifolding typ e having a typewritten copy. pack of individual ribbons, a. common guide 10 Another object of my invention is to provide structure for guidi g the P wb and aa compactand versatile writing machine adamcommon feed structure for feeding the ribbons ed'to be efilciently employed for normal and as a unit, and individual ribbon separators for v special typewriting purposes, su h as manifo1d separating the ribbons from each other for paper ing. and hectograph and photographicmaster interleaving l5 copy production, Another object of my invention is to provide Another object of my invention is to provide a wr machine P 0f ribpons in a writing machine whose carriage carried ca particular path cooperating with individual sepbon ribbon 1 fed simultaneously in the arating devices so the ribbons may be split on of its width and length in uniform Steps thicknesswise'with minimum strain on the rib- 20 of feed to utilize the carbon transfer material bons and substantially wmmufi changing the in an easy and efleetive manner and to there path length of the individual ribbons during the after discard used ribbon kiit ilg j r my invention is to spread 3 38223 32 5::- f gf gzg gg 5 3am? the ribbons at the low end of the eifective oblique 25 tracking and dusting, for reproduction by hecto- 22 f g pap?! g f graph and photographic purposes. 9 er 0 jec o my mven 10n 1s o provi e Anotherobject of my invention is to provide a writing machine having expedients whereby a writing machine having means for varying the a common grip feed for a pack of ribbons may be employed to feed the ribbons from a mul- 30 size of angle which its ribbon makes with its time ply supply spool and whereby the longer writing line and maintaining the ribbon in a 4 I outer plies from the spool are fed at an accelplurality 01 911811131 Positions t Fespect t0 the erated rate'to overcome slack normally developwriting line. ing from the longer outer plies.'

- a writing machine having me s disposing a writing machine having a constantly efiective the ribbon in ihOperatiVe DOSitiOn below the tensioning device for a ribbon to impart rewriting line of the machine and maintainin tractive tension to said ribbon by meshable ele- I the ribbon this Position 50 that the machine ments which slip relative to each other -in a 40' can be used for w outside t p p ses o positive manner and at a predetermined point 40 the ribbon, and the ribbon is located in an effecupon continuous ribbon feed. tive inoperative position. Another object of my invention is to. provide Another object of my invention is to provide a writing machine having a plurality of @cara writing machine having means operable inrlage-carried devices separately and independ cidental to carriage return for feeding a ribbon ently operable, one to line space a W Sheet 45 in substantially uniform: steps simultaneously and the other to feed a ribbon, said devices along the direction of its length and width to being also collectively operable to simultaneously provide a substantially complete fresh transfer line space a work sheet and feed the ribbon.

surface for each succeeding line of writing upon Another object of my invention is to provide Another object of my invention is to provide roll assembly with a novel driving power cona'writing machine whose ribbon packs in-snug1y nection to provide efflciently a wide range of with a work sheet and platen. uniform steps of ribbon feed.

Another object of my invention is to provide Another object of my invention is to provide a preferred direction of oblique ribbon feed, and a writing machine having an automatically op- 55 erable bail lifter so that the paper bail pressure upon the work sheet is released during line spacing of the work sheet.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be readily apparent from the following description:

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a typewriter embodying my invention showing the arrangement of the typewriter and the several assemblies added to the machine, and showing the swinging movement of the ribbon feeding lever which may be swung about its pivot free and clear of the line spacing lever of the typewriter.

Figure 2 is a front view of a portion of a typewriter embodying my invention, showing the oblique disposition of the effective stretch of ribbon in the writing line, and the 'oppositely tilted ribbon guiding and supporting assemblies at each end of the carriage.

Figure 3 is a view of the right hand end of a portion of a typewriter embodying my invention, and shows the location of the spool support and the ribbon guiding and tensioning apparatus at the upper end of the oblique stretch of the ribbon, and the adjusting means to regulate the effective operating position of the stretch of ribbon suspended along the platen.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the position ofthe ribbon support, guide, and tension assembly when moved downward about its pivotal axis to dispose the effective stretch of ribbon below the field of type impacts and between the usual vibrating ribbon and thlelslower portion of the platen or paper holding r0 Figure 5 is a view of part of the left hand portion of a typewriter embodying my invention, showing the tilted mounting of the feed rolls and the arrangement of cooperating parts.

Figure 6 is a view of the ejector mechanism for the ribbons, and the ribbon separating elements, taken on line V'I-VI of Figure 5, and illustrating the deflected ribbon path beyond the separating elements, and the relative ribbon paths when the ribbons are extended to sheet guiding position, and when the ribbons are operative adjacent the platen.

Figure '7 is a view taken on line VII-VII of Figure 5, in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a rear view of the feed roll device and the ribbon deflector plate for deflecting the ejected portion of the ribbons to the rear of the machine and under the platen shaft or axis.

Figure 8 is a view taken on line oVIIIVIII of Figure '7, in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating a ratchet gear aflixed to the main driving shaft of the driving feed roll, and a spring pressed pawl pivotally mounted on the rotatable driving Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the pressure feed rolls and associated parts, taken on line IX-IX of Figure 6, showing the details of construction of the cooperating feed rolls and driving drum mechanism.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the mounting and position of the ribbon separating assembly at the left end of the carriage andat the low end of the effective stretch of ribbon, the dotted lines representing the position of the slidgible ribbon separators in outer or extended posi- Figure 11 is a perspective view of the ribbon separator and guide assembly used to guide and actuate the ribbons thicknesswise at the lower end of the effective stretch of ribbon along the platen.

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view of the ribbon tension imparting unit, taken on line XlL-XII of Figure 1, showing the details of construction of the spring driven constant tension device.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic plan view of the cooperating meshing elements of the tension device, showing the relative position of the engaging teeth of the two meshing elements in normal operating position as ribbon is being drawn from the spool.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to Figure 13, but showing the relationship of the meshing elements after a definite degree of slack in the ribbon has been taken up and retracted to the feed spool, such as slack developing from a rapid spin of the feed spool, or lost motion or slippage at any point along the stretch of ribbon extending from the spool.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to Figure 14, but showing thev relationship of the meshing elements after a maximum amount of slack has been taken up and retracted to the supply spool, as in case of ribbon breakage, and showing the stop element in operative position to limit further backward rotation of the supply spool and consequent unwinding of the spiral tension spring.

Figure 16 is a cross sectional view taken on line XVI-XVI of Figure 1 of the ribbon supply spool and associatedparts, showing the spool supported by pins to rotate concurrently with the large tension disc and showing details of the pivotal mounting of the supply spool platform assembly.

Figure 17 is a cross sectional view of the ribbon tension device, taken on line XV]I-XVI[ of Figure 1, showing details of construction of the tension device, and cooperating parts to regulate and maintain the adjustment of the tensioning spring.

Figure 18 is an enlarged top view of the tension device, the dotted lines showing the teeth of the small meshing or tensioning element and the spiral tension spring which cooperates to maintain a counter feeding pressure on the large spool carrying disc.

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken on line XIX-XIX of Figure 20, illustrating the mechanism for automatically lifting the paper bail during actuation of the line spacing lever.

Figure 2,0 is a view of the mechanism for automatically raising the paper bail during actuation of the line spacing lever, and showing details of the cam. associated with the line space pawl carrier.

Figure 21 is a view of an assembly of carriage return levers, one comprising a ribbon feeding lever and the other comprising a line spacing lever, showing the manner in which the levers are mounted to swing in non-colliding planes,'

and the free and independent pivotal mounting for each lever and the separate spring means for returning each lever independently to resting position after actuation.

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the characters are impacted on the carbon strips, and showing how the lines of impacts on the carbon strips may be on new surface for each line written but closely compacted above the preceding impacts, and illustrating also the downward right to left direction of ribbon feed in combination with the upward line spacing of the work sheet. The dotted lines of Figure 22 illustrate the manner in which a the dotted line shows position the driven roll my work sheet may be inserted in the typewriter cornerwise to facilitate the leading edge of-the work sheet being interleaved with proper relation to the ribbon strips which may be moved directly from operating position thicknesswise.

Figure 23 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an assembly of work sheets being fed around the platen preparatory to interleaving the assembly of sheets with the ribbons which are all shown as in extended position in this view.

Figure 24 is a view similar to Figure 23, but illustrating the position of the assembly of work sheets after the innermost ply of ribbon has been actuated thicknesswise and snapped into positioniagainst the first work sheet, after which the work sheets have been fed a sufficiently further distance to prepare for actuating the middle ply of ribbon.

Figure 25 is a view similar to Figures 23 and 24, illustrating a further step in the interleaving of the ribbons with the work sheets, showing the position of the work sheets and ribbons after the middle ply of ribbon has been actuated thicknesswise and snapped into position against the second worksheet after which the sheets have been fed a sufficiently further distance to prepare ,for actuating the outside ply of ribbon, and with the remaining extended ribbon ready to be snapped against the third sheet.

Figure 26 is a perspective view of the eifective stretch of ribbon suspended along the platen in its down or inoperative position, and showing the entire effective stretch of ribbon below the writing line and slightly forward of the lower half of the platen.

Figure 27 is a perspective view of the effective stretchi of ribbon suspended along the platen in operative position, and adjusted at an operating angle to accommodate a maximum, length line of writing, and illustrating the spiral or helical path of the stretch of ribbon along the platen.

Figure 28 is a diagrammatic view taken on line XXVIIIXXVIII of Figure 2'7, showing the relationship of the strips of ribbon with respect to the writing line at the lower end of the stretch of ribbon closely adjacent the low end guide means. Y

Figure 29 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 28, but taken on line XXIX-XXIX of Figure 2'7, and showing the relationship of'the strips of ribbon with the platen and with'the writing line at the leftmost limit of the effective maximum writing line.

Figure 30 is a diagrammatic view taken on line xxx-xxx of Figure 27, showing the relationship of the strips of ribbon with respect to the platen and the writing line at the center of the effective maximum writing line.

Figure 31 is a diagrammatic view taken on line XXXIXXXI of Figure 2'7 and showing the relationship of the strips of ribbon with respect to the platen and writing line at the rightmost limit of the effective maximum writing line.

Figure 32 is a diagrammatic view taken on line XXXII-XX'XII of Figure 27 and showing the attain when it is desired to provide a space between the two rolls.

Figure 34 is a perspective view of the driven roll bracket, ribbon deflector and the spring ac== tuator which tends to swing the bracket towards the driving roll to provide a pressure between the driving and driven rolls shown in Figure 9.

Figure 35 is a side elevation of the spring shown in Figure 34.

Figure 36 is a sectional view taken on line mvr-xxxvr of Figure 21 in the direction of the arrows.

Although the invention as illustrated and hereinafter described, is shown in connection with a conventional front strike typewriter,.it may, with some modifications of the specific parts shown, be. effectively employed on otherconventional front strike typewriters as well as on other types of writing machines and on especially those having a traveling carriage. The construction and operation of conventional types of writing machines of today are so well known that the same shall not be described in detail here, and the one shown in the drawings shall be described'only to the extent that the invention may be readily ascertained by those skilled in the art of writing machines. I

The known front strike typewriting machine illustrated in the drawings in connection with the improvements of the present invention as embodied therein in a preferred form comprises a stationary frame It on which is mounted a longitudinally movable letter space carriage assembly ii. The carriage assembly includes a pair of oppositely disposed end plates i2 and IS having a shaft ll journaled therein. A cylindrical platen i5, which may be fairly hard, is

\ platen I 5. A pair of spaced arms ll are pivoted on a tabulator rack" l8 and carry a paper table 20 whose lower edge, when the paper table is in operative position, terminates adjacent the rear longitudinal edge of a paper deflection plate 43 extending beneath the platen I! to guide a work sheet during initial feeding of the same to the typewriter.

Adjacent the left hand end of the platen i5 is a line space ratchet gear 2i mounted on the shaft ll so that actuation ofthe ratchet gear 2| causes actuation of shaft l4 and platen II. Mounted for rotation on the shaft ll is a plate 22 having a guard flange 23 covering a portion of the periphery of the ratchet gear 2|. A handle 24 is swured to plate 22 and extends above the platen It. By actuating the handle 24 the position 0! the flange 22 may be varied to cover and uncover some of the teeth of the ratchet'gear 2|. A line space pawl carrier 25 is pivotally mounted on shaft i4 and extends'outwardly beyond the guard flange 23. A line space pawl 26 is pivoted to the outer end of the pawl carrier 25. v A spring 21, at all times tending to force the effective part of the pawl 26 towards the teeth of the ratchet gear 2|, is secured to carrier 25 and to pawl 26. A link 28 is pivotally connected to the carrier 25 and to the outer end of the short arm ofa line space lever pivotally 75' mounted on a horizontal plate or shelf 29 integral with the end plate l2. A stop 30 is integral with the plate 29, and extends upwardly therefrom at the front edge thereof. Another stop 3| is secured to said plate 29 and is spaced from said stop 30. Said stops 30 and 3| limit the extent of movement of the line space lever upon full actuation thereof. Upon full actuation of the line space lever from left to right, the platen l5 may be rotated to feed a mounted work sheet 1, 2 or 3 spaces depending upon the position of the flange 23. A paper bail has side arms 32 pivotally mounted on a marginal spacer bar 33 and a cross arm 34 secured to arms 32. A pair of spaced rubber rolls 35 are located on the arm 34 and serve to maintain the work sheet against the platen l5. A plate 36 parallel to end plate I2 is integral with shelf 29 and depends therefrom. The platen shaft I 4 extends through a sleeve 31 extending between plates l2 and 36.

A pair of spools 38 are mounted on the upper part of the frame I 0. A stationary upstanding type guide 39 is carried by the frame III at the approximate center thereof, and its effective guideway is located adjacent the platen 15. A ribbon vibrator 40 is also carried by the frame l and is located between the guide 39 and platen l5, and an inked ribbon 4| passes from one of the spools 38, through the vibrator 40 therefor to the other spool 38. Upon actuation of any key 42, the vibrator 40 raises a portion of the ribbon 4| carried thereby to effective printing position and in the normal writing line when it is struck by the particular type actuated by any one of the particular keys 42. After the type strikes the ribbon II, the type returns to its'original position and the carriage moves automatically a letter space from right to left, and the vibrator returns the ribbon below the writing line.

According to my invention, the usual right hand platen knob of this particular conventional front strike typewriter may be eliminated so that the space adjacent the end of the end plate I3 is free from any long projecting parts or controls. The left hand platen knob may in this instance be provided with an extension With these and other changes, most of which are herein specifically set forth, the typewriter is ready to accommodate the following structure to provide my invention. The modifications and changes required in individual writing machines vary, depending upon its particular structural details and arrangement of parts.

I have shown my invention carried out by adding'to the conventional typewriting machine four substantially unitary assemblies of parts, each performing certain functions insupporting and operating the strips. I have designated these four novel assemblies in the drawings and in this description as A, B, C and D.

Assembly A I locate at the right hand and high end of the effective oblique stretch of ribbon, and it includes a pivotally mounted assembly supporting a supply spool, tension imparting means, ribbon guide means and operating adjustments.

Assembly B is located at the opposite extreme end of the carriage, and represents the grip feed device to uniformly feed the ribbons from the supply.

Assembly C is located directly adjacent the left hand end of the platen and carriage, and providesthe function of spreading the pack of ribbons thicknesswise at the low end of the effective oblique stretch to paper guiding position, and it also includes a guide to maintain the pack horizontal.

in widthwise operative register with the writing line.

Assembly D is located also adjacent the end of the carriage near the low end of the effective stretch, and is an arrangement of levers to control carriage return, impart uniform steps of feed to the ribbon, and to line space the work sheet.

The novel unitary assembly A is mounted on and at the right hand end of the carriage II. The complete unitary assembly A may preferably include a supporting means for a supply of ribbon, which may be a spool of impression transfer material, such as carbon paper or the like,

a constantly effective or operative tensioning means which may include a retractor to overcome ribbon slack, and a guiding means to adjust the ribbon in a predetermined path and preferably along such a path that the ribbon will be approximately tangential to the periphery of the platen, and the upper and lower edges of the ribbon equidistant from the axis of the platen, at the extreme right hand end of the stretch. The assembly A includes the added advantage of being aliapted to have the location of said high end varied with respect to the horizontal. Suitable adjustments as well as other parts may be included as features of said novel assembly.

In one of its specific aspects, the complete unitary assembly A may include a connector or bracket 52 firmly secured to the end plate l3 and mounted on the outer face thereof. An axle 53, having a hollow, interiorly threaded outer end, is firmly fixed at its other end to the bracket 52. The axle 53 extends outwardly from the bracket 52 and is disposed at an angle to the The angle which the axle 53, of the assembly A when mounted on the carriage I, makes with the horizontal, is approximately equal to the oblique angle the hereinafter described effective oblique stretch of ribbon along the platen, and over its operating range makes with the horizontal so that the effective stretch of ribbon is approximately parallel to the axle 53.

Instead of permanently fixing the axle 53 to bracket 52, a suitable adjustable connection, such as a locking ball and socket joint may be employed therebetween in order that the angular disposition of the axle 53 with respect to the horizontal may be varied at will, which may be desirable in some cases when the angular disposition of the eifective stretch of ribbon is greatly varied in the course of typewriter operation. A supporting plate 54, having a bushing 55 welded to the underside thereof and passing through openings in depending ears 55 of plate 54 is pivotally mounted on the axle 53. The bushing provides a suitable bearing on axle 53 to vary the position of the supported parts which may be pivoted thereabout and is retained in position by a washer 51 and a screw 58 which bears against washer 51 and is in threaded engagement withthe interiorly threaded outer end of axle 53. The support 59 may be a substantially flat plate including a forwardly projecting guide supporting extension 59, a support position limiting extension 60 and a finger piece extension 6|. The extension 60 extends rearwardly of the support 54, is bent slightly upwardly and is provided with an opening through which rod 62 passes. Rod 62 is threaded along most of its length and is firmly anchored to the right hand end of the tabulator rack l9 from which it extends downwardly. Two pairs of nuts 63, G8. 65

and 66 are threaded on the rod 62, with one pair 6| and 63 acting as the upper stop for extension 66 to limit the lower position of the front end of support 5| and the other pair 65.and 66 acting as the lower stop for extension 66 to limit the upper position of the front end of support 5|.

Mounted on that portion of the bushing between connector bracket 52 and ear 56 is a coiled spring 61 having one end anchored to the bracket 52 and its other and extending in the form of a straight section and having its free extremity located against the under face of extension 59. The coiled spring 61 is so adjusted that it at all times, when the assembly is mounted, tends to force the front of the support 5| to its uppermost position and the extension 66 against the lower pair of stop nuts 65 and.

A small flange 68 extends downwardly from the extension 59 at the inner side thereof. A locking pin 69 is anchored in the flange 68 and extends towards the end plate [9. A latch 16 is pivotally mounted on a stud affixed to the end plate l3 and is retained on -the stud for free pivotal movement by screw 1i Wrapped around the stud isa coiled spring) 12 having one end anchored to the end plate l9 and its other end anchored to the latch 16. This spring 12 tends at all times to force the latch 16 towards a stop 13 therefor against which it bears when it is inoperative. The characteristics and positions of the pin 69 and latch, 16 may be so chosen that the latch 16 is automatically operable to lock the supporting plate 5|in lowered position by ap- "propriate movement of the support 5|.

The latch 16 has a hooked upper end and its lower end terminates in a flngerpiece 1|. The, upper and inner face 15 of latch 16 is in the form of an angular cam. Upon merely finger pressing the extension 6|, the plate 5| is rotated about axle 56 and the pin 69 upon lowering of the front part of support 5| bears against the inner cam face 15 of hook 16. 1.-

of the spring 12 whereby the pin 59 is disengaged when the front end of the support 5| is in its lowermost position determined by the position of stop nuts 69 and 6|, the pin 69 is located below the lower extremity of cam face 15 at which time the spring 12 causes a counter rotation of latch 16 to engage the pin 69 in the hook v portion of the latch to lock the plate 5| in that position. When it is desirable to change the location of the front of plate 5| from its lower to its upper position, the flngerpiece 1| is pushed upwardly to rotate the latch 19 against the action and the spring 61 forces the front end of the support 5| to its upper position against stop 19. The stop nuts 65 and 66 against which the/extension 59 bears, automatically determine the upper position of the front of plate 5|. Carried on the plate 5|- is a flat serrated disc 16 having uniformly spaced teeth '11. The diameter of the disc is preferably greater than the diameter of a full spool of ribbon to be mounted thereon, The disc has an opening in the center thereof and that portion of the disc defining the opening has a circular. recess accommodating a complementary formed axis in the form of a small disc 18 located in said opening and having a portion thereof located in said recess. The disc 18 is maintained in fixed position by a screw extending through an opening in the support 5| and threadedly engaging disc 19. The disc 18 maintains the disc 16in position and the -disc 16 I ineffective or pe at ve os tion- The pin- 66 so positioned with respect to the openings 99 that is free to rotate about disc 18 as an axis and rests upon the upper face of support 5|. Two

diametrically, disposed upstanding pins 18 are anchored to the disc 16 and serve to retain a spool of ribbon on disc 16.

At the outer end of the extension 59 there is mounted a cylindrical ribbon guiding roller 86 which has a longitudinal opening in the center thereof accommodating a screw 8|. The screw 8| is mounted substantially perpendicular to the support 5| and is threaded into extension 59 and secured thereto by a locknut. This roller 86 has upper and lower circular retaining flanges 82 between which .the ribbon may pass and it is free to rotate about screw 8|. The distance between the flanges 82 is just a little greater than the width of the ribbon guided thereby. when the assembly A is mounted and the front part of the support 5| is in its operative position, the roller 86 is located adjacent the right hand end of the platen l5 and is preferably disposed at such an angle as shown in Figure 32.

At an opening in the rear part of support 5|,

a short bushing 85 is fixedly secured to said sup-' port 5| and depends therefrom. A gear 86 rests on the upper face of the support 5| and has a depending interiorly threaded center boss 81 and an upstanding lug 88 integral therewith. The boss 81- is located in said bushing 85 and is maintainedin position by a screw 89 threadedly engaging the interior threaded portion of boss- 81. The gear 86 may be rotated about the bushing 85 and its location maintained otherwise fixed. The gear 86 is a small circular disc having a plurality of spaced uniform teeth 96 uniformly disposed about approximately two-thirds of its circumference', anda stop in the form of a double or of teeth 96, and with a large space between the tooth 9| and-the first tooth 96 of the series at the other extreme.

The location of gear 86 and the size and spacing of the teeth 96 are such that the teeth 96 .may be as small as one to four.

A modified z bracket has one of a sess a:

resting on support 5| and secured thereto by screws 93 and the other leg 9| thereof extends over the gear 86 and is spaced therefrom by its connecting web 95. Directly over the center of gear 86, the leg 9| has a vertically disposed opening accommodating an interiorly threaded hollow boss 96 integral with a circular tension adjusting plate 91 located between the lower face ofleg 9| and the upper face of 111: 88 and spaced therefrom. A retaining screw. 99 threadedly engages the interior of the boss 96 to maintain the plate 91 in position, while the plate 91 is free to rotate.

' The diameter of plate 91 maybe approximately the same as that of gear' 86 and it has a plurality of vertically disposed openings 99 arranged in a,

circle through its thickness and near the outer periphery thereof. .A flanged plunger pin I66 having a knob l6l at the upper end thereof extends through an opening in the leg 9|. A spring I62, surrounding said plunger I66 and bearing against the upper shoulder of the recess in the leg 9| and against the flange of pin I66, tends at all times to force the pin downwardly. The lower limit of the pin I66 is determined by the knob triple width tooth 9| at one extremity of the series l6! and the upper face of leg 9| when the pin is the pin may enter anyone of them, upon rotas gion of plate 91, to lock said plate against rotaion. 1

Depending from said plate 97 near the outer edge thereof is a short pin I03. A wound fiat spring I05, with a looped outer end, is located between gear 86 and plate 91. The inner end of the spring I04 is anchored in a vertical slot in the lug 88 and the pin I03 is located in the loop end so that winding or unwinding of the spring I04 depends upon rotation of gear 86 and plate 91 with respect to each other.

According to my invention the unitary assembly A as described may include all of the elements except rod 62 together with nuts 63, 64, 65 and 66 and latch I0 together with stud, screw ll, spring I2 and stop [3, and may be assembled as a unit and then affixed to a writing machine in its appropriate place and position. In addition the axle 53 and bracket 52 together with the retaining screw 58 and washer 5l' may be omitted as parts of the assembly A. These parts may first be fixed to the typewriter and the remainder of the assembly may as a unit be assembled and then mounted directly as a single unit on said axle 53.

Mounted on the large disc I8 is a spool of one, two, three, four or more strips or ribbons of impression transfer material wound on a core I05 having openings through which the upstanding pins I9 pass. When the front of the mounted assembly A is in its upper or operative position, the support 54, disc I6 and spool of ribbons are disposed as shown in Figure 3, with the support 54 and the parts supported thereby inclined rearwardly downward from the front extremities thereof and also inclined downwardly from the extreme right-hand points thereof toward the plate I3 as hereinbefore described, and the axis of the guide roller inclines downwardly and forwardly. The ribbon as it passes over said roller will have its edges equidistant from the stretch of ribbon between the guide roller 80 and along the stretch of ribbon between the said.

roller and guide.

The assembly A having a spool of ribbon mounted thereon may be adjusted to a particular:-

operating positionas shown in Figure 3, by locat ing the stops 65 and 66 at a selected position on the rod 62. In Figure 3 the operating adjustment shown is such that the guide roller 60 is raised to a position where the effective oblique stretch of ribbon is barely in register with the maximum writing line. The rear portion of the platform 54 is tilted downward, and the outer end of the axle 53 is tilted upward and is parallel with the efiective oblique stretch of ribbon, and

the ribbon strips extend directly from the spool, over the guide 80, and will meet the platen and extend along the platen in an effective spiral oblique stretch. The ribbon is therefore guided to the effective helical stretch in a natural and undeformed path in such a manner that the upper and lower edges of the ribbon are at all points along the platen approximately equidistant from the axis of the platen.

By changing the position of the stops 65 and 66, the position of the platform 54 and consequently the guide 80 can be changed. Providing the guide roll 80 is not raised excessively there will be a reasonable approach to the aforesaid desired meeting of the strip at the end of the platen, sufiicient to efiectively conform the major portion of the efiective stretch to the platen in a helical manner. 7

By adjusting the stops 65 and 66 so that the guide 80 is maintained in a higher vertical position than shown in Figure 3, the effective oblique stretch of ribbon will be at a greater degree of angle relative to the writing line than is illustrated in Figure 3 and shown in detail in Figure 2, and the elfective stretch of ribbon will no longer be in eifective working registerwith the maximum writing line, but will remain in working register with only a portion of the writing line and particularly the left hand portion of the maximum writing line, and the angle may thus be varied without disturbing other portions of the ribbon carrying structure.

The action of spring 61 is such that it tends at all times to maintain the platform 54 in operative upward position, and tends to return the platform to original operative position after any displacement.

The effective oblique stretch of ribbon may be removed from operative position by merely depressing the finger piece 6I to rotate the platform 54 and supported parts about the axle 53, and the latch 10 may be used to lock the forward portion of the platform and the guide 80 in downward position, thus swinging the high end of the effective stretch downward about the low end guide means hereinafter described, as a pivot point. The stretch is then disposed as shown in Figure 25 and in dotted lines in Figure 2, below the field of the writing line and slightly away from and forward of the platen.

- When the spool and platform 54 are in'operative position as shown in Figure 3, and ribbon is 'fed from the spool and along the platen I5, both the spool and ,disc rotate in a clockwise direction. Assuming that the teeth of disc I6 and gear 86 are in mesh as shown in Figure 14, just before the ribbon-is fed, then as ribbon is fed from the spool a counterclockwise rotation of gear 86 driven by gear I6 is positive and the spring I04 is further wound until the last tooth of the gear' 86 is in position where there is no positive mesh as shown in Figure 13, when the teeth of gear I6 merely strike said last tooth 90 and chatter thereby and impart a slight vibratory rotation to gear 86 and thus the gear 16 is always subjected to a counter-clockwise force. If the ribbon tends to develop any slack because of overspin of the spool, the spring I04 causes a counter rotation or a clockwise rotation of the gear 86 whose teeth positively mesh with those of gear I6 to cause gear I6 to counter rotate in a counter-clockwise direction to rewind the ribbon on the spool and take up any slack.

The degree of counter rotation is limited by the enlarged tooth 9| which acts as a stop against the teeth of gear I6 to prevent a too great counter rotation of gear 86, and the spring I04 cannot unwind beyond a certain degree. In this manner a retractive tension is constantly imparted to the eifective ribbon stretch extending from the supply spool by? the positively meshing gears 16 and 06, with the gear having a portion thereof where the teeth have been omitted so that only a certain degree of tension may be applied and the gear 16 may rotate without causing more than a limited cumulative rotary movement of the gear 06, although a counter rotative force is always applied tothe gear 16, and in addition the amount of retraction due to ribbon breakage or overspin of the SD00] is limited by the stop 9| which also prevents the spring I00 from completely unwinding, as indicated in Figure 15. In some instances .herinbefore described tensioning and retracting device and includes a frame or bracket consisting of a side I20, a top plate I2I integral therewith and disposed thereto at an angle slightly less than 90. Also integral with said side plate I20 and extending outwardly therefrom is a bottom plate I22 parallel to plate I2I. An opening in the side I20 has a bushing. I23 located therein and extending from side I20 to which it is firmly fixed.

The frame or bracket is so mounted that the bushing I23 is pivotally mounted on the left hand end of the platen shaft I0 and is concentric with sleeve 31 and shaft I0, and the side I20 is adjacent the outer face of plate 36. A retaining and lock screw I20 extends through an arcuate slot I25 in side plate I20 and makes threaded engagement with a tapped ope'ningin the plate 36. Thus the frame and the hereinafter described parts supported thereby mayx' be swung about shaft I0 as an axis and screw I20-is employed to lock the assembly in any desired adjusted position, and to properly match the oblique and hellcal path of the ribbon.

A drivingfihaft L26, having a ratchet gear I21 integral therewith and located between the ends thereof, has its lower portion extending through an opening in the front left hand portion of the top plate I2I. Mounted for free rotation on the upper part of shaft I26 is a drum I20'resting on gear I21 and having an upper flange I29 and a" lower flange I30 providing retaining walls for a flexible element I3I, such as achain or cord, having one end secured to the drum. This flexible element I3I may be wound one or more timesaround said drum and provides a driving connection for the shaft I26. The drum has a recess in. its upper end accommodating the head of :9 screw I32 threadedly engaging the shaft I26 to retain the drum on shaft I26 and thus provide amupper bearing for the drum upon rotation thereof. A more shallow and larger diameter recess is provided at the top of the drum and located therein is a disc I33 having a slotted shaft I30 and integral therewith and extending upwardly therefrom. The disc I33 is firmly anchored to the drum by screws whichpass through the disc and .make a threaded engagement with the drum.

I A flat spiral spring I35 is-wound around shaft 'I30 and has one end located in the slot of the shaft I30 and anchored thereto. The other end of the spring I35 is anchored to an upstanding pin 7 I36 stationary with respect toplate I2I. The

upper end of the shaft I30 is of reduced diameter. to accommodate a guard plate I31 which is spaced from the spring I35 and is retained on said shaft by a screw, which makes threaded engagement therewith.

Fixedly secured by rivets to said top plate I2I. depending therefrom and surrounding said shaft I26 is a stationary bushing I30 terminating above the lower limit of said shaft. A driving sleeve I39 having a flange gear I 00 integral therewith at the upper end thereof is rotatably mounted on the stationary bushing I30 and is fixedly coupled to the shaft I26 by pin I located below the lower extremity of bushing I30. Fixedly mounted on the sleeve I39 is a rubber or other appropriate frictional type drivingsleeve I 02. I have found live rubber to be admirably suited for my purpose.

'Pivotally mounted on the under face of the top plate I2I is a pawl I03. and pivotally mounted on the under face of drum flange I30 is a pawl I00. Springs I and I06 are respectively mounted on plate I2I and flange I30 and bear respectively against the pawls I03 and I00 to at all times force them respectively towards the gears I00 and I21. By pulling on the flexible element I3I the drum I20 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction against the action of spring I35 which is further wound thereby.

Upon rotation of the drum in this counterclockwise direction, the pawl I00 engages a tooth of gear I21 and rotates the shaft I26 together with the gear I00, sleeves I39 and I02 coupled therewith in the same direction. When this takes place the pawl I03 is inoperative and the gear I00 rotates by the pawl I03. When the force is removed from the flexible member III, the spring 135 causes the drum to rotate in a clockwise direction and during this clockwise rotation, the pawl I00 is inoperative and the pawl I00 slips over gear I 21, but the: pawl I03 engages a tooth of the gear I00 to prevent counter rotation of the shaft I26, gear I00 and sleeves I39 and I02. With this arrangement of parts, the flexible member l3I may be pulled outwardly. to rotate both the drum I20 and gears I21 and I00, and upon removing the force from this element I3I, the spring I35 automatically counter rotates the drum I20 to rewind the element I3I thereon and the gear I00 is prevented from rotation by pawl I03 during counter rota- 'cross arm pivotally mounted on rod I52 fixedly mounted between the top plate I2I and the bottom plate I22 by an elongatedscrew I53. A rod I50 is fixedly secured to the flange arms I50 between which it extends. Rotatably mounted on said rod I is a driven sleeve I having a flange &

same diameter and pitch so that when they are in operative position a complete revolution of the driving flange gear I causes a complete revolution of the driven flange gear I56. With this particular construction the rate of travel or the linear velocity of the outer face of the rubber sleeve I42 is always slightly greater than the rate of travel or linear velocity of the outer face of sleeve I51, upon rotation of the sleeve I42, while the angular velocities of the sleeves I42 and I51 are equal.

A wire spring I58 consists of a modified U shaped portion having a number of windings on each leg which surround the upper and lower portions of the rod I52 located above and below the limits of the sleeve cross arm I5I of the yoke and between the interior faces of the top plate I2I and the bottom plate I22. The spring terminates in a pair of straight sections extending from the outer windings. The outer ends of these sections are anchored to the rear parts of the plates I2! and I22 and when so mounted the cross bar of the U section bears against the plate of the yoke which connects the sleeve arm I 5I and the flange section I50 thereof and tends at all times to rotate the yoke about its axis to force the rod I54 together with its supported parts towards the rubber sleeve I42. In this manner the flange gears I40 and I56 are maintained in positive mesh during the operation of the feeding mechanism and the rubber sleeves I42 and I51 are forced towards each other at all times by this spring.

A deflector plate I59 is secured to the outer face of the yoke at its upper end, with the plate being welded to the yoke along a line extending rearwardly downward to guide and deflect the ribbon fed by the sleeves I42 and I51 so that the free ejected strips will be suitably deflected and slightly flared or twisted to freely pass under the platen shaft extension 5| and to a wire bracket or support I60 carried by and depending from the tabulator rack I9. The bracket or support I60 extends below the lowest point of the sleeves I42 and I51 and has a side arm extending forwardly about one half of the width of the carriage I I and along said carriage, but spaced a distance outwardly therefrom corresponding to the width of the top plate I2I Anchored in the top plate I2I is a bushing I6I' in which is rotatably mounted a shaft I62 having a knurled head I63 at one end and a cam I64 at its other end below the plate I2I. By rotating the knurled head I63 in one direction cam I64 presses against the yoke and forces the yoke to rotate about rod I52 to separate the meshing gears I40 and I56 and move the rubber jsleeves I42 and I51 from each other, as shown by dotted line in Figure 33. Carried by the bushing I6I is the pin I36.

When the can: I64 has been rendered inoperative, and the knob I63 is released, the yoke carrying the sleeve I51 and gear I56 is pressed by spring I58 towards the sleeve I42 so that the gears I40 and I56 located above the effective or gripping surfaces of'sleeves I42 and I51 are in positive meshing relationship. The shaft I26 and rod I54 and the sleeves I42 and I51 are positioned forward of the axis of the platen I5 2. predetermined distance to deflect the path of the strips of ribbon outwardly from the platen axis a predetermined distance. The shaft I 26 and rod I54 are always parallel and as mounted in their retaining bracket are inclined downwardly and inwardly towards the end plate I2.

This inclination is preferably such that the axes of shaft I 26 and rod I54 are approximately perpendicular to the path of the effective oblique stretch of ribbon. The bracket is so disposed about its axis and so locked in position by screw I25 that the axes of shaft I26 and rod I54 are approximately perpendicular to the path of the effective oblique stretch of ribbon. The bracket is so disposed about its axis and so locked in position by screw I24 that the axes of shaft I26 and rod I56 are inclined also rearwardly downward. This second adjustment is such that the shaft I26 and rod I50 are approximately parallel to a line tangential to the platen I5 at the extreme left hand end of the platen subjacent the longitudinal center line of the strip of ribbon,

As shown the so inclined shaft I26 and rod I54 are so located with respect to each other that, while the gears I40 and I56 are in positive mesh, and the rod I54 is located closer to the end Plate I2 than shaft I26, rod I54 is also located slightly rearwardly of shaft I26. Whatever may be the particular position of the axes of the driving and driven rubber sleeves, depending on the location of the entire assembly, it is preferable that they be so located with respect to each other that one rubber sleeve makes a flrm gripping contact withthe surface of a strip of ribbon while the other sleeve makes a contact, but one which allows some slippage, especially when two or more strips are fed from a single spool of multiplestrips of ribbon.

When a single spool I65 of three strips or separate plies of ribbon is mounted on the core I05 so that the spool I65 and core I05 rotate in uni-- son,this multiple ply spool together with its core is supported by the disc gear 16, with the pins 19 extending through openings in the core I05. A stretch of strips I66, I 61 and I68 with coated face towards the platen extends from the spool I65 and the free ends of the strips may be fed by actuation of feed rolls or gripping sleeves I42 and I51. A counter rotative force is constantly applied to the disc 16 and spool I65 by the spring I04 acting through the small tensioning gear 86 at all times, and this force will be imparted to at least one of the strips I66, I61 and I68. If the ends of said three strips are firmly held together and a long stretch of all the strips is,

pulled from the supply I65, it will be found that the stretch of strip I68 farthest from the platen is longer than the stretch of I61 and the stretch of I61 is longer than the stretch of' I66 because the diameter of the roll of strip I68 is just slightly greater than the roll of its subjacent strip I61 and the diameter of the roll of strip I61 is just slightly greater than the roll of its subjacent strip I66, and this condition exists for every turn of these three strips on the spool. Therefore, if the strips were all fed from the spool at the same rate of speed, the length of the outer strip I68 from supply spool to the feed rolls would soon be noticeably greater than the subjacent strips I61 and I 66 and the strip I66 would probably be the only strip under tension while the other two strips I 61 and I68 would be loose and would buckle or sag between the supply spool I65 and rubber sleeves I42 and I51. 4

To prevent this condition of looseness and buckling of the-outer strip I68 and to maintain all of these strips constantly under approximately even tension during operation when the diameter of the spool I65 progressively decreases, I employ a preferred relationship of parts.

The diameter of the rubber sleeve I42 is greater than the diameter of the sleeve I51 so that upon a short arm I12, guideway arms I13 and I14, a

rotation of the said sleeves, one by the other, the linear speed of the sleeve I42 is greater and about 2% greater than that of sleeve I51. Thus the difference in the speed of travel of the sleeve I42 when compared with the speed of travel of the sleeve I51 is always greater than the difference in the speed of feeding of outer strip I68 compared with the speed of feeding of the inner strip I66 at any moment, so that in effect the difference between the linear speeds of travel of the sleeves I42 and I51 is over compensatory by an amount above the critical compensatory difference in speeds, while the angular speeds of the sleeves I42 and I51 are equal. The so proportioned sleeves I42 and I 51 are so located with respect to each other that the surface of the sleeve I51 is in contact preferably with the coated inner face of the inner strip I66 and this area of contact is materially greater than the area of sleave I42 in contact preferably with the uncoated outer face of the outermost strip I68, with the strip I61 being located between strips I66 and I68. This stretch of three strips, over its entire width is in contact with the sleeve I51 along a'material portion, say about ip of its circumference, while the sleeve I42 is in contact with the outer face of strip I68 along only a narrow line.

Since the coated surface of thestrip I66 is roughened due to type impact and since it is maintained under pressure against the sleeve I51 over a comparatively large part of the area of sleeve I51, there is provided a firm andeflicient grip between the sleeve I51 and that portion of strip I66 in contact therewith. By providing the preferred grip between sleeve I51 and strip I66,

slippage of the strip I66 over sleeve I51 is reduced to a practical minimum. The strip I68 on the other hand makes contact with the sleeve I42 along only a small portion of the area of sleeve I42 and the plain uncoated surface only of the strip I68 contacts sleeve I42. The outer ply I68 therefore develops more slippageove'rythe sleeve I82 because the relatively smooth, uncoated side of the ribbon I68 is in contact with a narrow band or line of sleeve I82.

Thus when the flexible chain II is pulled the flange gears I88 and I56 are in positive mesh and the sleeves I42-and I58 rotate to pull the ribbons I86, I81 and I68, and all of the strips are constantly maintained under tension by the retractor on platform 54. For each full actuation of the chain I3I, the sleeve I42 travels an amount greater than the travel of sleeve I51 by an amount greater than the difference in length of the strip I88 paid out from the spool compared to the length of the strip I66 paid out from the spool. However, the rotating sleeve I42 slips slightly relative to the uncoated face of strip I68 as it drives this strip I68 through the pressure rolls, and at any time that the sleeve I42 tends to drive the strip I68 too rapidly as related to strips I66 and I61 all the tension is imparted to strip I88 which aids in creating additional slippage between sleeve I42 and strip I68 and in again equalizing the tension to all three strips.

The novel assembly C is mounted at the left hand end of the carriage which represents the low end of an effective stretch of ribbon. The assembly C serves essentially as a thicknesswise separator for the strips and also to guide the strip pack widthwise, and is preferably mounted between the feeding roller assembly and the left lug I16 having an opening I therein, and an enlargement I11 at one end of the arm "I. The arm I12 is integral with the arm "I and depends therefrom at approximately right angles thereto. The guiding arms I13 and I14 are integralwith arm "I and extend outwardly therefrom at approximately right angles to the inner face thereof. These arms I13 and I14 are spaced from each other and have square openings therein, with the openings in one guideway aligned with the corresponding openings in the other guideway. The distance between the opposing faces of guideways I13 and I14 determines the distance that the slotted strip carrying rods, hereinafter described, may be pulled out from their original position. The enlargement I11 has a recess at the front face thereof defining .a guide slot with a bearing face I18 at right angles to the length of arm I1 I, and a pair of forwardly projecting guide lugs I19 determining the length of the guide or slot. These lugs are spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the width of the strips I66, I61 and I68.

Adapted to slide in the guideway openings are strip separators I86, I8I and I82. Each separator consists of a square elongated rod I83 extending through a pair of corresponding openings in the guideway arms I13 and I14 with a stop pin I84 anchored to the rod I83 at a predetermined point thereon and between arms I13 and I14, a slotted rod I85 disposed at right angles to the rod I83, a finger piece I86 extending downwardly from said rod I83 and an anchor pin I81 located at the rear extremity of rod I88. The length of the rod I83 of separator I88 is slightly greater than the length'of rod I88 of separator II and the lengthof rod I83 of separator I8I is slightly greater than the length of rod I83 of separator I82, so that the slotted rod I85 of separator I88 may be located at a slightly greater distance from the axis of the platen than is the rod I85 of separator I8I and the rod.I85 of separator I8I may be located at a greater distance from the axis of the platen than is rod I85 of separator I82 when the assembly is mounted.

Extending outwardly from the lower end of arm I12 and firmly secured thereto is a rod I88 which is parallel to the guideway arms I18v and I14. Firmly anchored to said rod I88 along the length thereof are the lower straight ends of three springs I88. Each spring I88 is a spring wire, bent at its mid section in the form of a coil and the upper straight end sectionsof the springs I89 areanchored to the anchor pins I81. When the separators are in their full line positions shown in Figure 11, the springs I88 exert a force thereon tending to pull them backwardly and thus the separators are maintained in this position by virtue of the springs I89 and the stops I84 which are forced against guideway I18.

By pulling on the finger piece I86, a separator may be pulled outwardly from the frame and the rod I83 slides forwardly in the openings in the guideway. The pull is exerted against the action of the spring I88 until it passes the dead center and then the spring automatically forces the separator farther forwardly until the stop I84 strikes the rear of guideway I14 and the spring maintains the separator in this position shown in dotted lines in Figure 11. Thus the spring is adapted to maintain the separator for an indefinite period of time in either its rear or forward position, at the operator's option, and these springs maintain the strips in either position in spite of the tension of the ribbon strips threaded through the separating elements, which would otherwise tend to force the separator rods to an intermediate point.

As shown in Figure 10, the lower portion of the sleeve 31 may be cut away and the assembly C as hereinbefore described may be pivotally mounted on the end plate I 2, about a stud I90 which is afiixed to the end plate I2, and which extends through the opening I15 in the lug I16. A spring I9I is connected at one end to the end plate I2, and at its other end bears on the lug I16, and tends at all times to swing upward the forward end of assembly C including the guiding lugs I19, about the stud I90 as a pivot. A bracket carrying an adjustable screw stop I92 is carried by the end plate I2, with the lower outer face of arm I12 bearing against the free end of the stop I92. This adjustment limits the vertical position of the forward portion of the assembly C including the strip guiding slot, and the effective position of the guide may therefore be varied and is always spring maintained against the adjusting screw I92. Instead of mounting the assembly C on the end plate I2, it may be mounted pivotally on the platen axis I4 and it also may be rigidly connected to side plate I20 so that both assemblies B and C may be swung in unison. Optionally the assembly C may be rigidly mounted to end plate I2 and no adjustment provided.

The assembly 0 is preferably so mounted on the end plate I2 and so adjusted by adjusting screw I92 that the rods I83 are parallel to a line drawn from the center of the rod I54 and extending diametrically through the axis of shaft I4 with said line being perpendicular to said shaft. The slotted strip-engaging rods I85 are so disposed with respect to the rods I83 that they are parallel to the shaft I26 and rod I54. However, the normal position of the assembly C is such that the straight bearing face I18 of the guide and the slots in the rods I85 are parallel to a line approximately tangential to the platen at the extreme left hand point of the platen subjacent the longitudinal center line of the strip. The bearing face I18 is preferably located near the left hand end of the platen I5 and is adjacent the end plate I2 and is moderately beyond the extreme left hand margin of writing, so that the strips extend directly from the extreme left hand end of the platen in a straight line over the guide bearing face I18 whose lugs I19 prevent vertical displacement of the pack of strips, and from the bearing plate I18 the strips extend in the same straight line through slotted rods I85 and then bend and extend to the feeding sleeves I42 and I51. The slots in rods I85 are diagonally disposed outward away from the end plate I2.

The outermost strip I68 is located in the slot of the separator I farthest from the platen axis and closest to the end plate I2 and the innermost strip I66 is located in the slot of the separator I82 closest to the platen axis and farthest from the end plate I2, with the inter-' mediate strip I61 located in the slot of the separator I8I.

In my construction it is preferable that the distance from the axis of the platen I5 to the slots of the rods I85 and to the bearing face I18 be approximately the same as or just slightly less than the radius of the platen I5. The disposition of the bearing face I18 is rearwardly downward and below the writing line, while the disposition of the guide 80 is rearwardly upward and above the writing line when the spool I65 is in operative position.

As shown in Figure 6, the three ply ribbon pack extends in a straight line over the bearing face I18 and between the lugs I18 and through the slots of separators I80, I8I and I82 where the ribbons are deflected outwardly from the axis of the platen and away from the separators to the sleeves I42 and I51. These sleeves I42 and I51 are located in the manner hereinbefore described so that the pack of ribbons bear against the sleeve I51 over a large portion of the area thereof. The location of the sleeves I42 and I51 from the axis of the platen I5, the location of the rods I85 from the axis of the platen I5 and the location of sleeves I42 and I51 with respect to each other and with respect to rods I85, and the distance between the opposing faces of guides I13 and I14 are so chosen that when the slotted rods I85 are in their maximum spaced positions from the platen I5, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, the length of the strip path from the spool to the ejector rubber sleeve I42 is approximately equal to the length of the ribbon path between the same two points when the strips are in their position closest to the platen as shown in full lines in Figure 6. Thus, no one strip I66, I61 or I68 may be subjected to a materially excessive tension, and no strip may for any appreciable length of time be without tension.

When all three strips are in the outward position, they are under equal tension. When one of the separators is pushed back to its original position, the three strips are even then under the same tension because the length of the strip paths are all approximately the same.

The deflection in the path of the ribbon strips after they have passed through the slotted sections I85 is so chosen as to assist in opening or spreading the tensioned strips with little strain on the strips or distortion in their path. The position of the gripping sleeves I 42 and I51 is such as to provide a center or pivot point about which the relatively short stretch of strips is swung in the spreading operation, while the guide 80 at the opposite end of the effective oblique stretch acts as a pivot point about which the long efiective stretch is actuated in the thicknesswise spreading operation. The pack of ribbons is maintained in its proper widthwise path by the two common guides 80 and I19, and the separators I80, I8I and I82 are placed beyond the lower guide I19 so that when the'separators are actuated the strips are drawn away from the common guide I19 but when the separators are forced' inwardly the widthwise position of the strips will again be governed by the guide I19, and the necessity for a plurality of separate widthwise guides is eliminated by placing the separators beyond the main stretch of ribbon maintained between guides 80 and I19.

Still another aspect of my invention is the particular path of the strips I66, I61 and I68. With the elements in operative position as shown in Figures 2, 3, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32, the front end of the support 54 is maintained in its uppermost position by the spring 61. The spool I65 of three ply strips I66, I61 andl68 is tipped towards end plate I3 and also towards the rear of the carriage in the manner heretofore indicated. The strips I66, I61 and I68 extend upwardly and along the inclined face of the platform 54 and then bend over the cylindrical guide 80 which is inclined in the manner herebefore described and as shown diagrammatically in Figures 27 and 32,. From the guide 80, the ribbon extends in a downwardly inclined and helical path along the length of the platen and then in a straight line to the guide face "8 and between the lugs I19 to the separators I80, I81 and I82 and then they follow a deflected path from the separators to the sleeves H2 and I51. As shown in the drawings, the strips extending along the platen are obliquely disposed with respect to the writing line and are located to extend across and cover the entire length of the writing line. Thus the maximum writing line of the typewriter may be covered by an effective oblique stretch of ribbon, although in some instances it may be necessary to cover only a part of the maximum writing line when the work to be done on the machine is to be of a width less than the width of its maximum writing line, which is customary in average typing. 1

In this latter instance the lower nuts 65 and 66 are located at a lower point on rod 62 and the inclination of assembly A isincreased and the lower edge of the ribbon intersects the writing line at a. point inwardly from its extreme right hand end. By effective oblique stretch of ribbon, I mean that the obliquely disposed ribbon is located across the normal writing line of the typewriter and that the length and incline of said stretch are suflicient to cover the necessary length of writing line, either the full length of the line or less than the maximum writing line. The guide 80 and the lugs I19 are disposed in such vertical positions with the guide 80 above the lugs "9 to determine the inclination of the oblique angle which the strips make with the writing line. As shown in Figure 27, the inclination of the strips is'such that the entire writing low end guide face H8.

line is covered by the strips and the maximum writing line is effectively covered by this oblique stretch of strips. When so disposed the battery of strips makes a contact with the platen 55 at the extreme right hand end, and the strips at this point are substantially as close as possible to the platen at all points across the width of the strips, with the upper and lower edges of the strips equidistant from the platen axis M. At the extreme high end of the oblique stretch the lower longitudinal edges of the strips are located approximately coincidental with the writing line as shown in Figure 32.

Besides being disposed at an oblique angle to and located in the writing line, the strips are wrapped around the platen E5 in the form of a helix and the strips, independent of work sheet pressure, conform to the cylindrical platen along their efiective' length as shown in Figures 29, 30 and 31. This insures a snug and compact relationship between the ribbons and interleaved work sheets.

At the extreme left hand end of the obliquely guided pack of strips, the strips pass over the At a point very near the guide face H8 as shown in Figure 28 the top edges of the strips are approximately aligned with an extension of the writing line, and the strips are substantially flat in accordance with the fiat face H8. The strips are also substantially parallel to a line taken tangentially from a geometrical extension of the platen subjacent the center of the pack of strips.

Figure 29 shows the relationship of the ribbons with the writing line at the leftmost limit of. the maximum writing line, with a major portion of the width of the strips being disposed below the writing line, and only a suflicient portion ofthe width of the strips projecting upward into the writing line to accommodate typewritten characters which may impact the ribbon at this point.

Figure 30 shows the relationship of the ribbons with respect to the platen and writing line at a midpoint along the maximum writing line, at which point the width of the strips is equally divided above and below the writing line.

Figure 31 shows the relationship of the ribbons with respect to the platen and writing line at the rightmost limit of the maximum writing line where a major portion of the width of the strips is above the writing line, and only a sufllcient portion of the width of the strips extends downward into the writing line to accommodate typewritten characters which may impact the ribbon at this point.

Asshown in Figure 32, the ribbon pack lies flat against the length of roller which is located slightly rearwardly of the face of the platen. The line of meeting of roller 80 and the pack is approximately parallel to a line taken tangentially from a geometrical extension of the platen subjacent the center of the pack. The guide 80' is preferably disposed rearwardly of the faceof the platen so that the strips will conform to the face of the platen nearest thereto as efliciently as possible and will meet the platen as snugly as possible over a range of angular ribbon adjustments.

Thus the common widthwise ribbon pack guides, the roller 80 at one end of the stretch and thelugs H9 and face H8 at the opposite end of the stretch, are inclined in opposite directions to the vertical and impart a helical twist to the effective stretch and maintain the taut pack snugly against and obliquely along the platen. Consequently independent of work sheet pressure, the strips along the length of the effective stretch conform to the contour of the platen and tend to be curved as shown in Figures 29, 30 and 31; and the portions of the strips immediately adjacent the guides are flat.

With the strips extending taut between the feed rollers and the supply spool, these strips having only their under iaces coated and bein strips of carbon paper for example, may be used for making duplicate copies, or only one hectograph carbon strip may be used for making a hectograph original or a single ordinary carbon strip for a photo-offset original. When the machine is to be used with only one strip, the rolls M2 and may have the same outside diameter although the described feed rolls may be employed. The strips may be fed along the efiective path above described or may be rendered inoperative .by merely swinging the platform with its supported parts to its low position andlock- 'ing the same in that position, when the upper vguida, which may be common for multiple plies of a pack, and only a slight change in the path of the ribbon pack is necessary and much of the ribbon structure may remain fixed in position during the inoperative adjustment operation. The left hand guide lugs i'l9 are placed a sufficient distance beyond the left margin of writing I to act as an extended fulcrum point for swinging the stretch of ribbon so that when the high end of the stretch is swung downwardly the portion of the strip covering the extreme left margin of writing is also moved downwardly a short distance and the entire effective stretch is then below the entire field of type impacts.

Another aspect of my invention is the novel assembly D, which includes an element for actuating a line spacer and an element for actuating the drum I28 to actuate the feed rollers I42 and I51, with each element adapted to be operated independently of the other, but both elements adapted also to be operated in unison, and also a paper bail lifter operable during movement of the line spacer. On the foward side of the platform 29 and to the left of stop 3| is a shaft 200 extending through openings in the ends of levers 205 and 208 and in the platform. The lower end of the shaft 200 has a disc I attached thereto which disc 20I has a lug 202 depending therefrom on its circumference. A retaining screw 203 is secured to the shaft 200 to retain the levers mounted one above the other on the said shaft above platform 29. An elongated coil spring 204 has one'end anchored to the lug 202 and its other end anchored to the platform 29 at a point rearwardly of shaft 200. The lower lever resting on the platform 29 is keyed to shaft 200 and has an elongated arm 205 having a short arm 206 at right angles thereto at the inner end thereof and an upstanding curved arm 201 extending therefrom at the outer end thereof. Slidably mounted on the arm 205 is a collar 2I5 secured to the outer end of flexible member I3I and having a tightening screw 2I6 adapted to maintain the collar at any position along the length of said arm depending on the degree of strip feed desired for any full actuation of the lever.

The upper lever is mounted to freely rotate about shaft 200 and has an elongated arm 208 located above the arm 205 and of less length than arm 205, and a short arm 209 at right angles to said arm 208 and located above arm 206, and an upstanding curved arm 2I0 at the outer end of 208. The arm 2I0 has its lower portion extending upwardly and curving like arm 201, then a portion extending outwardlyand ,then upwardly curving.

Mounted in the hollow stop 3| is a coiled spring 2 having one end thereof anchored to said stop and its other end extending in a straight section and having a single coil wrapped around the arm 208. This spring tends at all times to maintain the upper lever in its retracted or left hand position when its short arm 209 bears against stop 30. The outer end of the link 28 is pivotally connected to the end of arm 209.

The pawl carrier carrying the line space pawl is preferably enlarged and has a cam 2I8 extending inwardly therefrom and under the cross arm 34 of the paper bail.

In operation the upper and lower levers are maintained in retracted position limited by stop 30, as shown in Figure 1, by their respective springs 2H and 204. In retracted position the arm 205 is disposed at an angle to the arm 208 because of lug 209, and by applying a force in the direction of left to right to the handle or upstanding arm 201, the lower lever 205 may be moved to its full forward position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The arm 201 may travel clear of the arm 2I0 to full actuation position.

The lower lever travels through the same are each time it is fully actuated and the length of the arc is limited by stops 30 and 3|. The upper or line space lever may be fully actuated from its rear full line position of Figure 1 by swinging the same from left to right without moving the lower lever, and the are through which the line space lever swings is also constant and fixed by stops 30 and 3|. Upon initial movement of the line space lever, the short arm 209 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction and the pawl carrier 25 rotates to swing the cam 2I8 towards the rear of the carriage and this cam engages the cross arm 34 of the paper bail to raise it about its axis.

During initial movement of the line space lever and the cam 2I8 the line space pawl 26 has been riding on the guard flange 23 and as the pawl 26 reaches the inner end of the flange 23, the cam has raised the cross arm from the work sheets a sufiicient distance so that the bail does not now pack the work sheets or pinch the ribbons. Upon further actuation of the line space lever to its full position, the pawl 26 rotates ratchet gear 2| and platen I5. Thus before there is any rotation of the platen I 5 to line space the same, the cross arm 34 has been swung upwardly about its pivot. Upon release of the line space lever the spring 2| I returns it, the cross arm 34 and the cam 2I8 to their original positions. Instead of actuating one lever to actuate the feed rolls I42 and I51 independently of the actuation of the line space lever, it is possible for the operator to actuate both levers by the same motion of the hand. The hand is extended across arm 201 to force the lower lever from left to right and upon movement of the arm in this direction it approaches alongside of arm 2I0 which is also engaged by the operators hand and the levers are forced to their-full actuation positions by this motion.

When in this position both arms 201 and 2I0 are still alongside of each other, with the arm 201 being directly below the uppermost curved portion of arm 2I0. The are of travel of the lower lever is always greater than the arc of travel of the line space lever and they are so correlated that the above position of the levers at the end of their travel may be attained.

The slide 2I5 may be moved to various points along the length of lever 205 to change the degree of rotation imparted to the drum I28, and the position of the slide 2| 5 may be such as to provide a considerable degree of rotation, or only a very small rotation depending upon the degree of feed required for various kinds of typewritten matter. When the slide 2I5 is close to the pivot of lever 205 a greatly increased leverage is available which aids in feeding multiple plies of ribbon against a strong tension. By placing the slide at the pivot point it is possible to so limit the pull of the chain I3I that no cumulative-rotation will be imparted to the feed rolls I 42 and I51.

A particular use of this carriage ribbon device is the preparation from a carbon paper ribbon of negative hectograph writing, as a master copy for duplicating on the so called chemical" or liquid duplicating machines, which require a master copy written in negative on the reverse side of a work sheet. It is a practical requirement of this work that each character written be impacted from entirely new carbon surface which is possible in this ribbon device by driving the ribbon in long steps of feed which however are maintained within reasonable limits by impacting a plurality of lines across the width of the strips. The arrows in Fig. 22 indicate the length and direction of. feed necessary to provide an entirely new carbon surface for each line of writing 

